A Joyful Existence

In a nutshell...

I have three beautiful children, Mikaela ~ 13 years, Joshua ~ 6 years... and Benjamin is 4 years old. I am married to {the Accountant}, Nathan... he is a wonderful father and step-father & my best friend. I am a Career Mumma, Quilter & Crafter, Mixed Media Artist, Scrapbooker, and Photographer. Creative of all kinds. I am a Marathon Runner in Training (with some injury & false starts)... My LOVES: cooking with my Thermomix, Clean eating, quilting, taking photos, coffee {preferably Illy}, lip gloss, going barefoot, my sisters, fab gal pals and the beach. Life is very good. Thanks for visiting. Oh and I love emails and comments, so don't be shy :)

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FitMumma

Bebe

Friday, 07 March 2014

How embarrasing, I finished and gifted this quilt 8 months ago. EIGHT !!

This was a very quick one, the main feature was the mostgorgeous fabric, then binded by a simple bold colour (magenta perhaps?)... and backed with the most soft of soft flannel in a pale yellow.

Note to self: ALWAYS take photos before gifting the quilt !!! I was in such a rush, I think I finished binding the night before, got up at 6am to drive up and be at my friends by 93oam.

And I got to meet little Annalise, the most adorable precious little bundle:

Oiw, isn't she just darling! I am pretty sure she is smiling at me!

Such a little cutie patootie.

Even tho this quilt has not a bit of piecing, I think it is gorgeous, the fabric makes it... delicious! However, it is not near as delicious as the little lady it was made for, such an angel, just like her Mumma {my dear darling girlfriend Jacqui}:

Mikaela was beside herself and squealing at me to have another bubba. Ah, NO!

Oiwwww, the bliss of holding such an adorable newborn as Arlo.

My only complaint... the time spent together was way too short.

Oh, and one other complaint... THEY ARE MOVING TO CHINA in just a few short weeks.

Seriously, Tanya is amazing... flys from Cairns to Canberra when her bubba is just over 3 weeks.

THEN is moving to CHINA when her bubs will be only just over six weeks old. I think she is amazing! I try not to get sad, she has always been a nomad type girl... but I will miss her. Have enjoyed the past few years of catching up with her up north. I feel teary writing this... friend like this are super rare and beyond special.

Goodluck gorgeous ones... it was so lovely to spend those precious few hours together.

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

Planning a baby shower? Need a few ideas? Here are a few things I did to celebrate my sister-in-law having her first bubs.

HELLO BABY MINI ALBUM...

Essentially, I prepared the whole album before the day... including the names etc of attendees >>>> so all they needed to do on the day was to add their little blessing note, well wishes, advice... however you would like to refer to these special little notes to "Mum to Be" and Bubba.

On the day I took a photo of each person, and a few of the party itself. I then just needed to develop the photos and stick them in. Everything else was done.I added a few ribbons. Viola. A great little keepsake. Here it is all finished.

Another fun part we did was to guess the baby's birth details, include a table with information such as Date, Time, Weight, Length, Gender and Guessed by. It's fun to see who came closest to the actual birth details afterwards.

GAME - BABY BINGO...

Guests emailed me a photograph of themselves as a bubba... I put them together on a large sheet of cardboard. On the day try and match the adults to the photos. We had one of the "Mum to Be" also, and it was a fun game to surprise her with.

CELEBRITY MUM AND BABY MATCH...

I know my "Mum to Be" loves her trash mags... so I knew she would find this fun. Not everyone did tho, as it was a bit tough... I know I wouldn't have gotten many correct.

We played a few other games... A-Z of names, points for a name no one else had put down. Word scramble I got from here, you can download the question and answer sheet there. Easy peasy!

Matching pairs of socks... we got about 14 pairs of socks together, various sizes, colours, patterns. The idea is to mix them up and throw them onto the floor... time each person to see who can put them into pairs the quickest. Afterwards the socks are given to the "Mum to Be" as another little gift for Bubs.

I had lots of other games planned too, but we ran out of time.

BOOK FOR BABY...

Each guest bought a book that meant something special to them for the bubba. We then sat in a circle and took turns to present the book to the "Mum to Be" and explain to her why the book was special to us. I also got people to introduce themselves and explain how it was that they knew "Mum to Be"... this was a really good icebreaker. And especially nice for Mum and Dad to go through the books together and marvel at the instant library they had before them!

DECORATIONS...

We had a baby shower at a great cafe that had a separate room out back, which was perfect!

"Mum to Be" got the bunting, banner and some napkins from on online store, unfortunately the banner was incorrectly spelt... but it didnt matter. "Mum to Be" also arranged for some balloons. We got the green and blue tissue pom poms from here.

And if you can find yourself a nine year old to record EVERY SINGLE SECOND without any editing whatsoever... I highly recommend it. Especially if they refuse to move out of photos and you can be heard on said video at least 12 times asking for them to do so... before giving up and taking the shot anyways!

We had a great time. Whose next in line for a baby shower I wonder? I am ready, let me just say that!!!

Saturday, 19 September 2009

I have one of these {it is fabulous and I love it}. However our Benny Boy is getting rather big and I really wanted to get one of these, the style with the extra supportive back, so that I could push Joshua on his bike at the same time as carrying Ben.

Only they are $200 new... but I went here and got a pre-loved one for just $80, thanks to my cousin Rose who spied it for me before I got there. Within 5 mins I had it and we were on the way back to the car. My type of shopping.

Well Nath's type of shopping... I could have stayed a lot longer and bought a whole lot more... they have moved out to EPIC in Mitchell & it was HUGE and packed!

If you have pre-loved baby/kids stuff to off load, or you are in need of something and want to save yourself some money... I highly recommend you get yourself to a Baby & Kids Market. They are held all over Australia.

Wednesday, 08 July 2009

Thursday night after Ben was born (3 days old) he had a bad
night sleeping and difficulty breathing... his nose was blocked and we were
really worried.

Our midwife came to see us and got us to go back to the
hospital to have Ben examined by the Paediatricians; they wanted to admit us
for a night of observation.

He was placed on Oxygen and initially we were told he had a
viral infection & established it was Bronchiolitis. Ben was likely infected by me :( ... you can just imagine the guilt I felt!! Unfortunately the flu I had been fighting off in the last few days before labour, grew in full force once he arrived. Thursday I got some antibiotics, but by then I had already passed the yukky's onto Ben :(.

We played the waiting game patiently until he was well
enough to come home again TODAY!! I was able to stay right beside him the entire time in a little fold out bed that they have at hospitals, not very comfy... but at least I was there at all times.

Although this has been my most heartbreaking experience as a
mother to date {Rob Thomas’s “this is how a heart breaks” kept running in my
mind}… there were many positives also: Ben never got a temperature; he kept
feeding really well (in fact had gained 300grms in his first 4 days and another 120grms during our hospital stay); his
colour was always good and he rested well.

It was awful to have his nasal passages suctioned… he has a
GREAT set of lungs!! Thankfully! His Oxygen levels went up and down over the
few days, from .6 of a litre to nil, and back up to .3… two steps forward and
one back each day it seemed.

Thankfully Nath’s Mum arrived from Adelaide the morning
after we were admitted… she has been taking great care of Joshua, which has
been wonderful.

Mikaela also went interstate the day after we were admitted…
up to Sydney to hang out and have some fun girly time with her Aunts for 4
nights… so that too was a blessing.

We had some fabulous nursing staff looking after us…
seriously these women are gentle angels on earth.

I kept a journal while we were in the hospital… I’ll likely
make a mini album, just a little healing book. Of course too, when Ben is older
he will be told he was in hospital as a newborn… he’ll want to know the
details, so it will be a good keepsake.

I count my blessings… we share a 4bed room and the
other 3, though much older, all have asthma… it is heartbreaking to hear them
coughing and struggling, particularly in the night. The Mum's were lovely and we had quite a little "family" happening by the time we left. I am sure to be in touch with both Belinda and Amanda

Nathan has been my rock, by my side and back and forth all
day long… trying to spend quality time with Joshua and with Ben and I… he did
as he always does in a bad situation… impeccably!

Joshua did really well too and the adjustment of a family of
4 to 5 has been even tougher than we imagined with this unexpected turn of
events… but Joshua has done great… I missed him very much. At times I feel a
distance between us, then I take him on a bit of one-on-one time, even just a
“date” to the cafeteria… and all is gold again. He is the cutest boy!

Mikaela has been away for the most part, and having a ball
in Sydney… it lifted my spirits to talk to her and hear her excitement in all
her adventures with her Aunts. She comes home tonight.

We got a gorgeous gift pack from Auntie Cassie, including the cutest little snuggle blanket which I wrapped Ben in often (and some charms for my Pandora bracelet, thank you sweetness SIL :))...

Yesterday Nath came in with a postage package for me…
containing the MOST beautiful quilt for Benjamin made my dear friend Tanya
(thanks gorgeous)… it really lifted my spirits… and has been keeping Ben warm
and comfy...

This is how Benjamin
looked this morning, they’d taken off the nasal prongs (JOY, JOY, JOY) and he did so well on his own they let us come home... YAH !!!!

I am SUPER grateful to those who sent love and prayers and
best wishes… touched by the phone calls and SMS’s … thank you.

We went to bed about 1030ish last night, an early one for us as I have been fighting off a cold for a few days and feeling tired in the last stages of pregnancy. Around 1130pm I awoke having a bit of indigestion and a coughing fit. Felt "something" going on, went into the bathroom, thought I could see a bit of a show. After a good few weeks of serious braxton hicks and a "false start" I felt this was the big event about to start...

1202 I called my girlfriend to come over to assist, she said my message says "I think I am in labour" as my contractions were quite mild at that moment (as they had been a few nights earlier & so I wasn't entirely sure they were going to develop into full labour) ... I ran a bath and hopped in.

Nath came in to talk with me and make other necessary phone calls, I started serious contractions. And a bit of crying!

Vanessa arrived and I was having contractions in the lounge room, quite vocally and clearly labour was in full swing. We were still waiting on Kim who was coming over to look after Mikaela and Joshua. I told Nath we had to go NOW.

Just as we were leaving Kim arrived and Vanessa came along with us. We got to the hospital at 1245ish, Benjamin arrived a short time later at 0110am.

So I had a 1 hour 10 minute active labour... no tearing whatsoever.

Shortly after Benjamin was placed into my arms I turned to my friend Vanessa who was filming... and said "that wasn't so bad"...

Funny, cause there were moments when I felt it was quite bad LOL! When the put him on the scales and I saw how much he weighed, I started to cry... I couldn't believe it... I felt like an amazing earth mother :) I still do...

I am so grateful to my midwife who helped me CALMLY breathe through my contractions and assisted me to BREATHE Benjamin into the world with as much ease as is possible.

Nathan was, of course, AMAZING.. he rubbed my back and gave me the exact support and encouragement I needed. He was (and is) the BEST!

Rachel, our doula, was super helpful and did everything we asked of her, she was great support to both Nath & I.

Vanessa and Kim, two of the best friends a girl could ask for... were loving and supportive and exactly what Nath and I needed. We are blessed.

As for Benjamin... well you can see for yourself, he is perfect. Almost an identical to Joshua... only Josh had dark hair and Benjamin has blond. He is calmer than Joshua was, which probably has a great deal to do with his much more beautiful birthing experience. He is peaceful and gorgeous.

We came home some 10hours after Benjamin arrived safely into the world... and now we sit at home, relaxing and enjoying this time together. We had a lovely roast pork tonight and just embraced each other tenderly on the couch throughout the afternoon and early evening before baths and bed routine began.

Mikaela and Joshua have been super excited and really enjoying the new addition to our family.

Nathan, he is everything to me. He supports and understands my needs better than anyone ever could, I am truly blessed {he'll also ignore me being abusive when I am in major pain}...

I had a wonderful active birth with Mikaela, I need to remember this... my body knows how to do this...

Then I had a pretty bad labour experience with Joshua, major pph, required 4 units transfused. This is a reminder to have faith in my instincts, to "BE" the flow... not to force anything {ie. getting induced!} It is also a reminder that I got through that bad experience and that at the end of the day a healthy babe is the most important factor for our family... and that women are amazing, we bounce back :)

Other than that, not much going on. I captured this image tonight after my bath: Joshua fell asleep sitting up, pretty much, immediately after our bath & Nath and Mikaela playing a new Nintendo game he got for her today, a bit of a hard one...

After the kidlets were put to bed, Nath and I watched this movie... which was beautiful.

I hope you are having a peaceful and relaxing weekend with your loved ones...

Thursday, 25 June 2009

Here we are in Joshua and the Bubba's newly decorated {and now mostly complete} room which is right beside ours and used to be Nath's study (he has swapped with Joshua's old room) ...

From the door you see Joshua's cot, which has been converted into a toddler bed...

Three original paintings I did for the nursery are hung above Joshua's bed:

Also above is a birdcage decal by FlatBird. Winnie and the Pooh and Eyore were given to Mikaela by my younger sister Katie, when Mikaela was born... so they're about 8 years old now:

I love that we have big windows all throughout our home to let in lots of light and sunshine:

I covered the rocking chair and change table in a very light aqua micro fleece, it is so soft and lovely:

I got lots of baskets from here to go in the cupboards and with the change table and the little BarBar soft toy on the chair is another gift from Katie, tho that one is on permanent loan until she has her own bubba's... it is so sweet, winds up and plays a tune, it's head moves ever so slightly:

I'll have to post a pic of Bubba's cupboard later, his/hers is closest to the change table, we got the Aneboda chest of drawers from Ikea, there is a cute little monkey - yet another Katie item (my other sisters buy the kidlets tonnes of clothes):

Then Joshua's... he has a lot more "stuff" than Bubba:

Beside the cupboard is the butterfly mobile I made:

This is Bubba's bassinet; contemporary and simple:

A couple of prints I got from Etsy and a few watercolour paintings I did myself:

I also made a cot blanket for Joshua, bassinet blankie for bubba and a cover for my contour pregnancy pillow, which will soon become a breastfeeding pillow, or just relax on the couch pillow.

So that is about it... nursery is done. Big difference from the one {a different room} we'd set up for Joshua 21 months ago now.

So here I am at almost 39 weeks, and surprise, surprise... not getting any smaller just yet...

Some people see my big round voluptuousness that is impending motherhood and exclaim "oh you are big" or "oh you are huge" or "Are you sure you're not having twins??" Even my Mother, yesterday!!

These comments leave me, at times, a little bewildered... I think "did you not get the Memo... that I am Pregnant ?? !!!" It' s not FAT you know! Okay... well some is :)

I guess sometimes people think they are being funny, or witty... or don't think, or not sure what to say? I'm not sure... most the time I do find it amusing, AND...

Flip side to such comments are my sisterhood, including the gorgeous Martha (who does have twins), they all exclaim: oh look at you gorgeousness, look at that big round beautiful miracle belly... you look amazing...

With positive or negative comments... I still feel the same... I feel amazing! I feel like the Goddess Woman I AM ... doing what I have been created to do, what I am designed to do, made to do.

I feel blessed and in a total state of grace. I feel at one with my sisterhood of faith... I do have my moments and days were I am feeling totally exhausted... but for the main part I am loving these last weeks...

I am a bit teary as I write this post... I love being pregnant so much, I love the miracle that is the female body, I love that I am fortunate to be doing this a third time... I am not sure if we will have another {we hope to, but not sure}... I mourn for the end of another amazing pregnancy... another incredible, blessed experience... I mourn especially because it may be my last.

I prepare for what I hope will be a wonderful birth, grateful that I have my belly casts and a few photos to show exactly how much I adored carrying life inside of me and how very blessed I feel to be able to do so.

I never take this for granted & think often and pray for my sisterhood still on their journey to becoming Mother... I know the day will be soon.

I share this lovely site > I have the book and CD and it has been a beautiful gift.

I have taken to leaving voice messages beginning with "Its Bek, I'm not in labour...." and answering the phone as "Gorgeous Pregnant woman speaking..." gave my younger sister Lee a great laugh yesterday afternoon.

Friday, 19 June 2009

I wonder when you will come... in the middle of the night? In the day?

I wonder if you are a boy or a girl?

I wonder so many things...

Recently I'd been going to bed thinking "tonight might be the night"... but not so much these past few nights... I realise you will come when you are ready.

Each morning I wake and I am grateful for another full and deep sleep .... *smile*

I know too well that soon we are in for very big changes, mind you... I can not really "see" those changes into what they will mean as an "actuality" for our family of 4 about to become 5...

I feel as though my body is in full preparation and near readiness: I have back ache, cramps... lots of braxton hicks & tenderness... but I am aware that this could remain for days or even a couple of weeks before you decide it is time to join us.

Thankfully I am feeling relaxed and patient, nothing like I was with Joshua... I am happy to go 2 weeks over our due date, which will take us to 16th July, so some time off yet. I can't imagine I'd be a "joy" to be around... but I will wait for you to come when you are ready.

Lucky for me your Dad is super supportive, I think his love for me and you far out weighs any moods I can have... tho I think my moods are pretty good :) of course! Naturally anyone who has been through pregnancy is far more compassionate and considerate because they just "get" it and it is not easy to "explain" the series of emotions from joy to complete exhaustion a heavily pregnant woman goes through in a matter of minutes. Lucky for me I have lots of super supportive girlfriends who are here for me so lovingly, particularly Kim, Martha and Vanessa have been wonderful. It does help that most of the time I am one of those "glowing" pregnant women and the pregnancy itself I adore, I love feeling you move inside me, I love the anticipation... I am lucky to not suffer many ill side effects as I know can be horrible for some...

Also helps that your Dad is so great, I think he is just beside himself with joy to becoming a Dad again. Sometimes when we are in the bath... and your Dad sits in (the bathroom, not the bath... there is no room LOL) to chat with us... I see him gazing at you {my big belly}... he has this grin and stare and it makes me feel like we are living a dream. We know we are very blessed to have found each other and created this gorgeous family we have... with all the ups and downs. Life is beautiful.

Soon enough you will be here and we will be gazing adoringly at you with love, awe and fascination.

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The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little stardust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched.
-Henry David Thoreau-